Ninoy, Butz Aquino both honored in memorial mass

On August 21 this year, two Aquinos were remembered.

On the 32nd death anniversary of democracy icon Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., his younger brother and former Senator Agapito “Butz” Aquino was also honored in a memorial mass attended by President Benigno Aquino III at the La Salle Greenhills chapel on Friday.

Butz died of natural causes at 73 last August 17, four days before the death anniversary of Ninoy, who was assassinated at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport, sparking several protests against the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and eventually leading to the Edsa Revolution in February 1986.

After visiting the grave of his father at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, President Aquino went to the San Juan City school to attend the mass where Butz’s cremated remains were brought.

All throughout the mass, Aquino was seen standing beside Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II whom he recently anointed as his party’s presidential candidate in 2016.

Senator Bam Aquino and the presidential sisters–except for television host and actress Kris Aquino–Pinky Aquino-Abelleda, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and Viel Aquino-Dee were present.

Former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito-Estrada also attended the mass with Vice President Jejomar Binay’s wife, Dr. Elenita Binay, and former Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta.

Estrada was a classmate of Butz in Ateneo. “He’s a big loss to the country. He’s a very good and peaceful man,” said Estrada.

Some of the notable personalities in attendance were Senator Francis Pangilinan, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, former Commission on Human Rights chairwoman Loretta Rosales, Philhealth board member Risa Hontiveros, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, and former Senator Nikki Coseteng.

Although held in a La Salle school, the mass was officiated by Jesuit priests led by Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ, who is a relative of the Aquinos.

“La Salle is also close to the Aquino family, especially during the Namfrel (National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections) days of Cory Aquino,” Butz Aquino’s son Bobby told reporters.

Bobby said his father, in his last moments, instructed them to forgo a wake. However, this was overruled by his fellow senators and held a wake in the Senate session hall.

“Actually, when he was still in the hospital, he didn’t want to be visited. I think he didn’t want to be fussed over. Ayaw niya ng inaasikaso siya. Sa bahay, siya nagaasikaso sa amin. (He didn’t want to be attended to. At home, he was the one who took care of us.) That’s really his personality. He didn’t want too much fanfare,” he said. Julliane Love de Jesus/JE